Joining member for building constructions

ABSTRACT

An elongated joining or splicing member for joining together two elongated rigid structures along adjacently disposed but spacedapart ends thereof. The joining member has a web or tail portion and a channel portion at one end of the web portion for engaging and joining the ends of the rigid structures together when the web portion of the joining member is moved into locking engagement with one of the rigid structures.

United States Patent [1 1 3,636,668 Klingensmlth l 1 Jan. 25, 1972 1JOINING MEMBER FOR BUILDING UNITED STATES PATENTS CONSTRUCTIONS3,232,395 2/1966 La Barge ..287/189.36 R x [72] lnventor: James D.Klingensmith, Allegheny 3363383 H1968 La Barge" Township, WestmorelandCounty, Pa. 3'4O5492 10/1968 Kouer 3,570,205 3/197l Payne ..52/584 X[73] Assrgnee: Aluminum Company of America, Pitt- Sburgh, PrimaryExaminer-Price C. Faw, Jr.

y Att0rneyElroy Strickland 211 Appl. No.: 53,501 57 ABSTRACT Anelongated joining or splicing member for joining together [52] US. Cl..52/282,52/584 two elongated rigid structures along adjacently disposedbut {5 l] Int. Cl ..E04b 1/40 spaced-apart ends thereof. The joiningmember has a web or [58] Field of Search ..52/282, 285, 275, 552, 463,tail portion and a channel portion at one end of the web por- 52/712,584, 281 tion for engaging and joining the ends of the rigid structurestogether when the web portion of the joining member is [56] ReferencesCited moved into locking engagement with one of the rigid struclies.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN25I972 31 3 56 sum 1 or 2 I/////////I// I III l/ll/I/l/II FIGJ.

INVENTOR James D. K I ingensmith ATTORNEY PATENTEU JANZS I972 SHEET 2 OF2 will] FIGZ.

l'l/l I 1 ZIIIIIIIIIII/ FIG.3.

JOINING MEMBER FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to building constructions, andparticularly to a splice or joining member capable of positivelysecuring together two rigid, spaced-apart structures, i.e., structuresthat cannot be placed in the proximity of each other required to receivea joining member of the type, for example, shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,232,395 issued to R. L. LaBarge on Feb. l, 1966.

In joining together adjacent panels in building constructions, forexample, joining together pre-formed panels that provide exterior wallstructures for buildings, the panels are joined together by simplymoving the end or end face of one panel close to the end of the otherpanel, and then disposing a channel member in place over return bendportions of the panel ends. With the channel member in place about thereturn bends, the panels are moved apart until the return bends engagethe channel membenThe channel member is then fixed in place by a snugseam filler or member forced into the channel between the ends of theadjacent panels.

However, not all adjacently located building panels and associatedstructures, that need to be joined together, can be moved into thenecessary proximity of the adjacent structure to allow the channelmember to clear the return bends. Often, both adjacent structures arefirmly fixed in place, or there is an obstruction which prevents to twostructures from being placed in close proximity for the channel member.

For example, in US. Pat. applicationSer. No. 46,634, filed .lune I6,1970, J. D. Klingensmith and B. C. Merkin and entitled High-StrengthWall Structure with Sill and Header Members, a highly rigid wallstructure is disclosed in which a ribbed panel, i.e., a panel havingraised and valley portions extending the height thereof, is providedwith sill and header members firmly clamped on the bottom and top of thepanel, the sill and header members, with associated clamping members,having tongues and notches seated in and around respectively the valleyand raised portions of the panel. In constructing a building with suchwall structures, cornerposts are used to connect the panels at thecomers of the building. Both the posts and the panels are provided withintegral, elongated return, end portions for joining purposes. Theposts, however, cannot be moved against or in the proximity of the panelnecessary to permit a channel member to clear the return bends becausethe sill and header members and their respectively clamping membersextend a distance beyond the end of the panel. The pose and panel arepositioned as close to each other as the sill and headers will allow,the space between them being capable of accepting an elongated fillermember,

for example, as shown in the above-mentioned LaBarge patent.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a simpledevice for joining together, in an expedient manner, two spaced-apartstructures that cannot be moved together to provide clearance for thedisposition of a channel member over return bend portions of thespaced-apart structures. Briefly, this is accomplished with an elongatedjoining member having a tail or web portion provided with a notchextending the length of the web, and a channel portion at one end of theweb for engaging and joining the ends of the spaced structures. At leastone leg of the channel has a bent or return bend configuration in crosssection corresponding to the return bends of the structures. To join thestructures together, the bent leg of the joining member is simplydisposed to engage the return bend of one of the structures and thenswung or rotated toward the second structure until the other leg of thechannel portion engages the return bend of the second structure, and aprojection extending from one of the structures snaps into the notch inthe web of the joining member. The projection deflects when the notch ofthe web is moved thereagainst, the projection then springing back toseat in the notch. This locks the joining member in joining relationacross the ends of the structures.

THE DRAWINGS The invention, along with its advantages and objectives,will be best understood from consideration of the following detaileddescription in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are cross-sectional views of elongated rigid structureswith the joining member of the present invention shown in threesuccessive positions in the process of joining together two of thestructures.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The figures of the drawing show a cross-sectionalview of an elongated post 1 (extending into the plane of thezpaper)positioned between two exterior wall structures 2 and 3to join thestructures together in a watertight manner at the corner. The post is arigid structure and preferably an extruded metal member though theinvention is not limited thereto. The wall structures 2 and 3 arepreferably rigid, preassembled units in which ribbed panels 5 and 6 areprovided with sill and heater members clamped to the bottom and topthereof as shown and described in the above-mentioned Klingensmith andMerkin application though other wall structures may be used in thepractice of the invention. In the views of the present figures, only thesills are visible, the sills being designated by numerals 7 and 8.

As explained in the Klingensmith and Merkin application, the sill andheaders are provided with tongue and notches which engage the panels onone'side thereof while clamping members 9, having similar tongues andnotches, engage the panel on the other side thereof. In the views of thefigures, the upper surfaces of the sills 7 and 8 are visible on bothsides of the panels '5 and 6, and the sills abut directly against thesides of the post I (with the headers not shown) as indicated at 7A and8A. This is done for aesthetic purposes. Otherwise, a gap between thepost I and the walls 2 and 3 would be the result, i.e., the gap would bevisible from outside of a building constructed with the posts and panelsas thus far described. The clamping members 9, however, are cut short ofthe post, as indicted, since they lie behind the panels, to provideclearance for the insertion of the joining member of the inventionpresently to be described. Upper flange portions 78 and 8B of the sills7 and 8 are also visible in the figures.

The end faces of the panels 5 and 6 and the end faces or sides of post1, as shown in the figures, are provided with integral return bendportions 10 and 11, respectively, for joining purposes as explainedhereinafter.

In assembling a wall structure to include the comer posts I for sayshipping purposes, the post 1 and the wall 2 are joined together beforethe sill and header members are clamped to the panel 5 of the wall. Tojoin the post I and panel 2, the two structures are simply movedtogether and the return bend [0 of the panel 5 is disposed in engagementwith an integral, curved extension 12 of the post on the side of theextension facing the return bend ll. Thereafter, as suitable fillerstrip 13 is inserted between the return bends l0 and II to provide awatertight seal between the post and panel, and the sill and headers arethen clamped to the panel. A complete wall structure would include apost (not shown) joined to the other side of the wall 2 in the mannerjust described. Such a preassembled wall construction providesanessentially flat package configuration so that it can be shipped tosay a building site with relative case. To join, however, a second wall,wall 3 for example, to the post I at a right angle to the first wall 2would provide a construction wholly unsuitable for transportation. Thus,the second wall 3 is preassembled (with sill and header) without postsaffixed to the ends thereof so that it too can be transported as arelatively flat package. At the building site, the wall 3 can then bejoined to the posts 1 in the manner presently to be explained.

When the preassembled wall structure 3 is disposed in position to bejoined to the post I in the erection of a building, the ends 8A of thesill and headers prevent the post I and the panel 6 from being disposedin a manner to allow an integral clamp of the post to clear the returnbend portion 10 of the panel, as described in connection with the wall 2and the integral projection 12 of the post. Nor is it possible to clearthe return bends of the post and panel with a separate channel clamp ofthe type, for example, shown in the LaBarge patent.

in accordance with the invention, the wall 3 is easily joined or splicedto the post 1 by an elongated joining member 15 in cooperation with anelongated projection 16 integral with and extending from the side of thepost toward the panel 6. More particularly, the joining member comprisesan open-ended channel portion 18 located at one end of a web or tailportion 19. The channel portion includes two legs 20 and 21, the leg 21,which is closest to the panel 6, having a bent configuration conformingto the return bend 10 of the panel. The web of the joining member has anotch 22, extending lengthwise of the web, dimensioned to receive theprojection 16 of the post therein.

To join the wall 3 and the post 1 together, the joining member 15 ismoved into the area between the panel and post, as indicated by thearrow line 23 in FIG. 1, with the channel end 18 of the member facing inthe direction of the return bends l and 11 of the panel and post. Thebent leg 21 of the channel is next seated in the curve of the returnbend along its length and on the side thereof opposite to the returnbend 11, as shown in FIG. 2. With the leg 21 so seated, the web of thejoining member is rotated toward the post, as indicated by the arrowline 25 in FIG. 2, about the hinge or pivot point provided by the curvedportions of the return bend 10 and the leg 21. The joining member isrotated until the leg 20 of the joining member engages the return bendll of the post on the side facing the post, and web portion engages anddeflects the projection 16 of the post to allow the notch 22 of theweb'to move over the projection, at which time the projection springsback to seat in the notch to thereby lock the joining member in securingengagement with the ends (10 and 11) of the panel and post, as shown inFIG. 3 of the drawing. No' further maneuvering of the joining member isnecessary, and no other components are required to join the ends of thestructures 1 and 3 together.

To provide the splice provided by the joining member as described with awatertight seal, an elongated snug seam, filler strip 28 (FIG. 3) isforced into the space between the return bends l0 and 11 and into thearea of the channel 18 of joining memberlS.

From the foregoing description it should now be apparent that a simpleand highly expedient joining member and arrangement have been disclosedin which a single member is simply rotated into locking engagement withelongated, spaced-apart, rigid structures to be joined. This isaccomplished by use of an elongated joining .member having a web or tailportion with a notch therein, and a channel at one end of web forengaging the ends of the two rigid structures in joining relation. Tojoin the structures, one leg of the channel is disposed to seat in areturn bend of one of the rigid structures,

and the joining member swung toward the other structure until the otherleg of the channel engages the return bend of the other structure andthe notch of the web snaps into locking engagement with a projectionextending from one of the structures.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferredembodiments, the claims appended hereto are intended to encompass allembodiments which fall within the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention and certain embodiments thereof, Iclaim:

1. An elongated joining member for positively securing together tworigid structures along adjacently disposed but spaced apart end facesthereof in which each of said end faces has a return bend extendinglengthwise of said structures and at least oneof said structures has aprojection extending lengthwise thereof,

said joining member having a web portion and a channel portion at oneend of said web portion, said channel portion having at least one legprovided with a return bend for engaging the return bend of one of saidstructures,

the web portion of said joining member having a notch extendinglengthwise thereof for engaging the projection provided on said onestructure, to lock the joining member in place in joining engagementwith the return bends of said rigid structures when the return bend ofthe channel portion of said joining member is disposed to engage thereturn bend of one of said structures, and rotated toward the secondstructure until the other leg of said channel engages the return bend ofthe second structure and the projection seats in the notch of saidjoining member.

2. In a building construction including at least two adjacent structureshaving adjacently disposed but spaced-apart return bend portionsextending along the ends thereof, and at least one of said structureshaving a projection extending lengthwise thereof,

an elongated joining member positively securing said structurestogether, said member having a web and channel portions, the channelportion having at least one leg provided with a bend corresponding tothe return bends of said spaced-apart structures engaging the returnbend of one of said structures,

the web of said joining member having a notched portion extending thelength thereof engaging the projection on said one structure to locksaid joining member in place with the channel portion thereof in joiningengagement with the return bends of said spaced apart structures.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which one of the spaced-apart structuresis a corner post of a building construction, and the other structure isa wall panel of said building construction.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CCRRECNGN Patent No. 3 ,636668 Dated Jan. 1972 Inventm-() James D. Klingensmith It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

C0].a 1, line 27 Change "to" to -===-the- Coln 1, line 30 After "1970"insert by-- Col, 1, line 42 After "return" delete the comma and change"end" to bend Col, 1, line 7 Change "pose" to -=--p0st- Col. 2, line 20Change "heater" to --header-- Col, 2, line 28 Change "tongue" to=-tongues--= C010 2, line Change "indicted" to -=--indicated- Signed andsealed this 22nd day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MOFLETCHERJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents F ORM PO-O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 a U5. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE: 1969 0-366-334

1. An elongated joining member for positively securing together tworigid structures along adjacently disposed but spaced apart end facesthereof in which each of said end faces has a return bend extendinglengthwise of said structures and at least one of said structures has aprojection extending lengthwise thereof, said joining member having aweb portion and a channel portion at one end of said web portion, saidchannel portion having at least one leg provided with a return bend forengaging the return bend of one of said structures, the web portion ofsaid joining member having a notch extending lengthwise thereof forengaging the projection provided on said one structure, to lock thejoining member in place in joining engagement with the return bends ofsaid rigid structures when the return bend of the channel portion ofsaid joining member is disposed to engage the return bend of one of saidstructures, and rotated toward the second structure until the other legof said channel engages the return bend of the second structure and theprojection seats in the notch of said joining member.
 2. In a buildingconstruction including at least two adjacent structures havingadjacently disposed but spaced-apart return bend portions extendingalong the ends thereof, and at least one of said structures having aprojection extending lengthwise thereof, an elongated joining memberpositively securing said structures together, said member having a weband channel portions, the channel portion having at least one legprovided with a bend corresponding to the return bends of saidspaced-apart structures engaging the return bend of one of saidstructures, the web of said joining member having a notched portionextending the length thereof engaging the projection on said onestructure to lock said joining member in place with the channel portionthereof in joining engagement with the return bends of said spaced apartstructures.
 3. The structure of claim 2 in which one of the spaced-apartstructures is a corner post of a building construction, and the otherstructure is a wall panel of said building construction.